Since JLC’s inception in 1991, we have always aimed to support and champion high quality, inclusive Arts activities and provision that widens access and participation for under-represented groups. We believe that all young people should have access to the Arts to ensure they experience a well-rounded education. As a result, we work with a number of institutions to create strategies and develop engagement activities that target schools, young people and their families to allow them access to some of the greatest arts institutions in London.
Over the past 30 years this sentiment has been reflected in the Charity’s giving, with Arts & Sciences consistently remaining the highest area of the Charity’s spend, totalling more than £25m to date. One Arts organisation which is thriving off the back of this thinking, is English National Ballet and its initiative ‘Dance Journeys’, which connects schools through collaborative dance workshops.
It was, and continues to be, a brilliant way to bring children and young people together with dance experts to work together in the world of performance art so that they can experience the rigours, disciplines, joys and inspiration of creating a performance show linked to themes highlighted in ENB’s current productions. Several young people have gone onto pursue careers in dance, for example joining the English National Ballet Youth Company or the Ailey Studios in New York – following their involvement with the project. It is fantastic to see how this project has not only inspired young people but opened doors for them. The model is now so successful that there are plans to expand Dance Journeys even further with opportunities to take it to Southampton and work with schools and youth companies there, as well as plans to establish a project with the Royal College of Music and the creation of a Creative Fellows programme in London.
With the joint confidence from both ENB and JLC in the ‘Dance Journeys’ model, as well as the trusted relationship between organisation and funder, ‘Dance Journeys’ has since become ENB’s flagship engagement project. Since 2013, over 900 young people have worked with ENB and experienced being part of a professional dance company. The first schools to participate were Capital City Academy (Brent) and Hammersmith Academy (Hammersmith & Fulham). Students took part in Lest We Forget, the ground-breaking collaboration between ENB and Akram Khan Company to commemorate the First World War.
ENB now repeats the ‘Dance Journeys’ project every year, increasing the number of participating schools and incorporating wider aspects of ballet production, including sound, video and backstage work. Young people not only learn about dance but collaborate with other young, aspiring musicians who often play specially commissioned music. The project enables young people to experience the same opportunities as a professional would within the arts industry. It is inclusive and no one is discriminated or left out because of who they are or where they come from. The project is not about finding London’s young new talent who will enter the profession but to give young people exposure to the creative world and allow them to be inspired, motivated and gather confidence.
John Lyon’s Charity supported English National Ballet and its ‘Dance Journeys’ initiative from 2013 to 2019 with grants totalling £197,600. Fleur Derbyshire-Fox, Director of Learning at ENB says: “We simply couldn’t have evolved Dance Journeys without the support of John Lyon’s Charity. It really has been life changing for ENB because it has moved us on so much from where we were back in 2009. We call it our flagship project because it is a beacon for us and will continue to be. I think JLC took a punt and really trusted us to deliver something special for three years. I loved the trusted relationship with JLC, I just think it’s really special. What Dance Journeys proves is that if you have a trusted relationship with a funder, you can achieve so much. It really does feel like a partnership”.
We are incredibly proud of how Dance Journeys has grown and evolved in the last six years and look forward to continuing the positive and trusted relationship with English National Ballet in years to come.